Declutter Your House Like a Professional Organizer (Here's How)

Few things are worse than coming home from a long day only to find that your house is a mess and in need of a deep clean. It's all too easy to let unopened mail pile up, neglect sticky kitchen counters, and forget to unload the dishwasher before making a new mess. If there's one person who knows how to handle these common pitfalls, it's organization coach Maeve Richmond. She recently shared her personal secrets to keeping a tidy home and not letting clutter get out of control with MindBodyGreen. It seems the answer to a neat space is by adopting a few easy routines. Here's how Richmond keeps her home clutter-free.

Designate a "Drop Zone"

According to Richmond, this is a place near the front entrance of your home where you can toss everyday items like your wallet, keys, and gym bag when you come home. Use a table, cabinet, bench, or shelf to hold all your essentials so you always know exactly where they are.

Clean Once a Week

Taking the time to clean your home's major surfaces once a week is not a major commitment, but it can make a serious difference in the way your space looks and feels. "My quick cleaning routine involves running one Swiffer pad over the shelves near my windows and sweeping the floor. Every few weeks I take things a step further and run a cloth along tinier home surfaces, like the edges of my picture frames," writes Richmond.

Give Objects a Home

"The most important lesson I teach my organization clients is that everything has a home," Richmond shares. When you designate locations for all of your belongings, clutter is much easier to manage and it makes cleaning up a cinch. If things get out of place during a busy week, simply take a few minutes to put things away over the weekend.

Head to MindBodyGreen for more tips from Richmond on how to declutter your home.